Best Things To Do in Dallas, Aug 20 – 26

In a city this big, there's something to do every single day of the week. How could there not be? Dallas is a destination for festivals, traveling art exhibitions, stand-up comedy circuits and literally everything in between. This list is by no means exhaustively comprehensive, but it is a stacked, weekly guide of top picks you don't want to miss.

And the ways to fill your schedule don't stop here — check out our full events calendar for even more ways to get through the week in North Texas. Dallasites101 is leaning into the nostalgia (of the nostalgia) with the release of Freakier Friday. And why shouldn’t they? It stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan 22 years after they endured their first identity crisis. On Wednesday, Aug. 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Fortune House (2010 Greenville Ave.), the group hosts a night of pop-ups, themed drinks and even a fortune cookie game that could lead to you swapping identities for the night. Go see the movie, and then bring your mom for drinks, or bring literally any mom for drinks. Or just do a friends’ night out for drinks and a group-think about Manny Jacinto (he’s in the movie too). This is a private event, so you gotta buy tickets via Eventbrite.

Thursday, Aug. 21

FGI Fall Forum at Galleria Dallas
The Dallas chapter of Fashion Group International hosts the 7th annual Fall Forum at Galleria Dallas this Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. The event features panels at different retailers hosted by former Bravo regular, Courtney Kerr, curator and director for the University of North Texas’ Texas Fashion Collection, Annette Becker, Brite Beauty’s Marsi Hubbard, TV host Mahisha Dellinger and others. The panels are packed with pros in beauty, fashion and art. Tickets are $55–$75, available online.

Friday, Aug. 22

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at the Texas Theatre
The Mocky Horror Picture Show crew is back, but this time they’re partnering with LGBTQ film series CinéWilde to bring a ter-riff-ic screening of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert to the Texas Theatre (231 W. Jefferson Blvd.) this Friday at 9 p.m. The Mocky Horror comedians, Liz Barksdale, Danny Gallagher and Stefan Newman, provide hilarious commentary during the antics of Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and the recently departed and devastatingly fabulous Terence Stamp, but the audience isn’t left out. There are special prompts for participation. Oh, and don’t forget the Priscilla costume contest, complete with prizes. Tickets are available online.

I’m Proud of You at Theatre Arlington
Oh, if only everyone had to watch an hour of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood each day. The world might be a better place. Fred Rogers taught children how to treat one another with kindness, empathy and curiosity. And Mr. Rogers was a great friend off the screen, as well. Theatre Arlington (305 W. Main St., Arlington) presents I’m Proud of You for its final weekend. Based on the book I’m Proud of You, My Friendship with Fred Rogers by Tim Madigan, the play puts a spotlight on not only male friendship, but how to be a human amongst humans. It runs through Aug. 24 and tickets are available online.

Saturday, Aug. 23

Get Lit Adult Book Fair at J. Erik Jonsson Central Library
Oh, the anticipation of Book Fair Day in school. Standing in line, trying to figure out if you could afford a scratch-and-sniff sticker sheet with two books or if you should just play it cool and go for one book and a scented eraser. Well, adults don’t have to look back anymore. Get LIT! Adult Book Fair hits the Central Library (1515 Young St.) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Aug. 23, with local vendors, curated selections, journals and more. Will there be posters of your favorite heartthrobs? Maybe. There will definitely be cocktails and local authors, so plenty over which to swoon. The fair is for attendees 18 and older. Register online to help event planners.

Mango Joy Ride at various H-E-B locations
Apparently, North Texans love them some mangoes, because the National Mango Board is bringing back the mango-centric Joy Ride experience for a second year this Saturday and Sunday. Walk the orange carpet to learn about fresh mangoes, play interactive mango games, get free cups of ripe mangoes with various toppings from chocolate to chili-lime seasoning, and more. It hits Melissa, McKinney, Burleson and Mansfield. Find the complete times and details on the Joy Ride site.

Sunday, Aug. 24

KPop Demon Hunters: Sing-along Event at Alamo Drafthouse
If the title of this doesn’t look familiar, do not admit it to any tween, teen or K-pop fan. The Netflix sensation is all the rage, packed with earworms and viral dance moves courtesy of stars-turned-demon hunters, Rumi, Mira and Zoey. And now it’s on the big screen. Thanks to Alamo Drafthouse, fans can sing along with the girl group in the company of like-minded fans…and maybe a few parents who know all the words by now, too. (Lyrics will be on the screen if you don’t.) But all jokes aside, these songs are catchy, and it’s not a bum assignment to accompany a KPDH die-hard to any of the sing-along events this weekend. Check out the screening times over Saturday and Sunday at the Richardson, Cedars, Las Colinas, Lake Highlands and Denton locations. Grab tickets online.

Open Discussion with Greg Metz and Danny Hurley at Kettle Art
“Can art make a difference in changing the dynamics of social and political issues at hand?” That’s the topic of discussion between two artists at 3 p.m. this Sunday at Kettle Art (2650 B Main St.). It’s the last day to view Viva la Revolution, so Dallas art world legend Greg Metz and photographer Danny Hurley will dive into the role artists play in bringing about said revolution. As Metz has long presented sociopolitical commentary in his public works (and helped to shape semesters-worth of wonderfully loud-mouthed artists) and Hurley has documented many protests and rallies in addition to his other genres, the two are well positioned to speak about what’s been successful in the past and what they’re seeing affect today’s issues. Other artists from the exhibition are invited to respond during the discussion. Find Kettle Art on Facebook.

Monday, Aug. 25

Locals Only Special at Reunion Tower
Need to feel like you’re on a staycation? Just need a change of perspective? It’s understandable. And it’s also time for getting $10 off adult general admission to Reunion Tower (300 Reunion Blvd.) Sundays through Fridays, through August 29. It’s for residents of DFW, so don’t forget to mention the “Locals Only” promotion when you purchase tickets in person at the ticket counter.

Tuesday, Aug. 26

Ghostbusters Movie Party at Alamo Drafthouse
Yes, this is the second movie party this week for Alamo Drafthouse, the third overall with a screening, and the fourth in general, but like, how do you not mention Ghostbusters when you get props like glow necklaces, slime and what Alamo calls “a reasonably sized marshmallow.” To leave it out would be ”human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!” So hurry up and get those last remaining tickets for the interactive experience at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26. There are additional showings available online.

Chef Eduardo Morali at The Mexican
Pangea is a Michelin-starred restaurant that has been the focal point of fine dining in Monterrey, Mexico, for over 25 years. It's helmed by chef-founder Guillermo González Beristáin and chef-partner Eduardo Morali. Tuesday, August 26, chef Morali comes to Dallas to serve a world-class tasting menu at The Mexican. This exclusive, one-night-only event is part of The Mexican's Origins of Mexico epicurean series. Chef Morali is known for reimagining traditional Mexican cuisine with global techniques. His tasting menu will reflect the spirit and bold, contemporary flavors of northern Mexico in Dallas. Reservations are now available on OpenTable. — Aaren Prody

Continuing Events

DFW Restaurant Week returns
Dinners, lunches and brunches are looking a lot more delicious and adventurous with the return of DFW Restaurant Week this Monday, Aug. 4. (It’s the first of four weeks, as DFW Restaurant Week is really every week in August.) Support two non-profits, the North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope, with each special prix-fixe menu. Participating restaurants run the gamut of cuisines and include Mercat Bistro, Elephant East, Ocean Prime, El Carlos Elegante, Rise No. 3 and No. 6 and many, many others. This is both first date magic and date night prime. There are ideal options for girls’ night and guys’ night, and there just might be something in the mix to make up for forgetting to text some back for three months. Peep menus and make reservations on the Restaurant Week website.

I'm Proud of You at Theatre Arlington, through Aug. 24 
In an age of a rampant "male loneliness epidemic," we'll take any and every opportunity to soak up some healthy, inspiring guidance for male friendship. I'm Proud of You, a play directed by Harry Parker and adapted from Tim Madigan's book titled I'm Proud of You, My Friendship with Fred Rogers, gives us a much needed reminder from our old friend and iconic television host, Mr. Rogers. The show runs on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Aug. 8 - 24. Tickets can be found here.

Viva la Revolution at Kettle Art Gallery, through Aug. 24
It’s been a crazy, weird month. While you may have missed the opening celebration of the latest invitational art exhibition at Kettle Art (2650 Main St.), Viva la Revolution. Owner Frank Campagna said via email that the Kettle team had “been reflecting on the connection between past revolutions and the unrest of today,” and that “true freedom is rarely tidy.” Indeed. Combining the urgency of the moment with the inability to stay silent, these artists are addressing the call for change and courage. The show runs through August 24 and features the likes of Jackdaw, Greg Metz, Mariell Guzman, Justin Clumpner, Hatziel Flores, Melissa Hennings, Jason Janik, Viktor Ortiz, Danny Hurley and others. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays. Check Facebook for current hours in case of a special event.

Saya Woolfalk: Floating World of the Quilted Cloud at the Crow Museum of Asian Art, through Sept. 7
Throughout her two-decade career, Woolfalk has used her art to build a world with a fictional race of women-plant hybrids known as Empathics who live in the Empathic Universe. This new exhibition debuting at the Crow Museum of Asian Art (2010 Flora St.) on Saturday will immerse visitors in Woolfalk’s world with a collection of collages and quilted pieces. More information can be found on the Crow’s website.

Nasher Public: Jóhann Eyfells, through Oct. 26
The Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora St.) hosts a serene exhibition by Icelandic artist Jóhann Eyfells, through October 26. It’s a selection from Cairns, a body of work to which he contributed throughout his life. He made the various sculptures in a process that inherently opposes the natural behavior of the Earth: He poured molten liquid into the ground to fill gaps, holes and fissures. In a sense, the late Eyfells created beauty out of unknown emptiness. Find out more on the Nasher website.

Return to Infinity: Yayoi Kusama at the Dallas Museum of Art, through Jan. 18
“All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins,” one of Yayoi Kusama’s iconic “infinity room” installations, will be displayed at the Dallas Museum of Art (1717 N. Harwood St.) for the first time since 2018, starting Wednesday. The immersive exhibition at the DMA envelopes the viewer in a trippy, tangible display of art history. Kusama hails from the mythic '60s art scene. “Pumpkins,” created in 1991, incorporates many themes characteristic of the legendary artist’s work: infinity, the sublime, and obsessive repetition. And, of course, pumpkins — so many pumpkins. To book your appointment to honor these pumpkins, visit the DMA’s website.